Record storing and ejecting mechanism for phonographs



Sept. 15, 1953 R. A. MULLANEY -2,652,257

RECORD STORING AND EJECTING MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Oct. 18, 1949 I6 20 Hg. 1 IL j f 23 I? \X O 5- 3s 2 4 l9 Q 1 285 gl ll l4 2 35 3| 3O 29 37 3 lo 1 I2 .34 Record Changing 2 Driving 33 Mechanism H93 F/gf4 F/g.5

RALPH A. MULLANEY 53 INVENTOR.

38 H/S ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1953 RECORD STORING AND .EJECTING MECH- ANISM .FOR PHON-OGRAPHS Ralph A. Mullaney, Chicago, 'Ill.,

' Corporation,

Zenith Radio .Illinois assignor to a corporation of Application October 18, 1949, SerialNo. 121,973

4 Glaims. 1

This invention relates to an improved record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph and more particularly to such a mechanism utilizing a spindle of the center-drop type. used throughout the specification, the term center-drop phonograph.

Presently existing record discs are of 10 or 12 inch diameterand are provided "with a center- "in'g aperture having a diameter of substantially :281 inch. These records are designed to be played on a turntable "having a centering spindle 0.275 inch in diameter. For autothese records, a comg mechanism is dispose Such equipment is generally satisfactory to accommodate both the 11) "or 12inch discs. However, recorddiscs having-a diameter of 7 inches have now become available and "the conventional side post type or record-changer must be modified to provide means Tor supporting and ejecting record iscs'trt *three'diiferent distances from the spindle if it is to accommodate "all three sizes "of records. It is at "once apparent that the most particrflar'ly "if intermix playing is desired. a

Inasmuch as'eaohof the three types ofre'cords under consideration -has a 0.281 inch centering aperture, it is reasonable to conclude that a center-drop spindle *can provide intermix playof the several record "sizes. *In this system -'no side ipost ejecting *elements are employed and the record stack is supported or storedon the spindle proper. It a spindle of the offset type is employed, the stack may be held in position by -a record stack leveling arm which bears upon the topmost record disc.

The limitation of 0.275 inch for the diameter oi the center-drop spindle has heretofore imagreat 'mechanicalhandicap on the equipment as will he apparent from the following description of a prior =center-drop-spindle record storing and ejecting mechanism. The prior structure comprises a central spindle having a hollow "lower section extending through the turntable and an upper "section but offset with'. respect to the lower section. "Both sectionshave an external diameter of the order of 0.275 inch sothat the centering apertune of .aJrecorcl cliscJmay fi'tthereover. Within the lower section there is rotatably supported a that is integral with 2 shaft to be connected to the record changing drive mechanism radial cam or ej beyond the spindle offset to enter into ing aperture of the the centerlowermost record of a stack rectly under the upper spindle section. 'Ihestack then rests upon the spindle offset and "the ejector finger is within the center aperture of bottom disc. Rotation of the cam shaft causes the eiector finger to move out from under the upper section :and slide the bottom record over the offmay be repeated.

The described structure has "certain pro- -whichseverelydimitprac- In the first place, the entire record stack bears directly and only upon the ejector finger when the iatter moves from the ejecting position to its hiding place beneath the upper spindle section. a consequence, the ejector finger is pressed hard against the lowest record and may "seriously groove it during this portion of *the record-changing cycle. Continuous wear of that type encountered in successive playing of the record may destroy in the area adjacent the centering aperture.

Moreover, the offset of the spindle of :the order of one-sixteenth inch and that wholly inadequate=to support there'cords when it is meted that the-"centering aperture tends ito )become enlarged with use. also, this limited supporting shelf hardiy allows for varia'timis in manufacturing tolerances :of the records.

Additionally, "it is necessary to under cut the upper "spindle suificierrtl-y "to #hide :the eiiector fin- -ger w'hich extends aorossatleastihalf of :the cross section of the cam shaft. This :larger amount of undercutting dangerously weakens the spindle at its ch sel; and makes the structure too fragile.

It is an object :of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved (reenter-drop :spindle for ca phonograph which overcomes one or more .of the afore-mentioned sohjiectiens roi :zprior arrangements.

It is a furthei obiect ofrithis invention to sprovide "a center-drop spindle which does not :subject the-records to undue wear.

It is a still "further "object of this invention to provide a centerdrop sp'indle which "is *simjects and advantages Q Q: ple in arrangement, is easy to manufacture and assemble and yet is efiiciently and entirely reliable in operation.

In accordance with the invention, the record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph comprises a center-drop spindle having an upper section and a vertically restrained offset hollow lower section. The upper section is provided with a cam receiving recess in a portion of the base thereof in alignment with the lower section and a segment of the upper portion of the lower section is cut away to define an arcuate path of travel for a cam from an initial position in which the lowermost record of a stack is supported on said lower section to a terminal position in which the lowermost record of the stack is ejected therefrom. An ejector shaft is rotatably supported within the lower section and a vertically movable ejector cam is mechanically supported by the upper extremity of the shaft and projects into the cut away lower section to travel between terminal positions in response placement of the shaft. The mechanism further includes a spring which biases with a force less than the weight of a preselected number of records and a motion-limiting stop which limits the upward travel of the cam beyond the lower section to a distance less than the thickness of one record. A driving motor which is mechanically coupled to the shaft is utilized to rotate the shaft and the cam to effect a recordfeeding cycle.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further obthereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a functional representation, partly in block, of a phonograph including a record storing and ejecting mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the spindle shown in Fig. l in a disassembled condition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows the spindle of Fig. 2 in an assembled condition;

Figs. 5 through 8 are views of the spindle with several records in position, shown in section, illustrating a record-feeding cycle;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 4 but showing a modified spindle arrangement in one condition of operation; and,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the modified structure of Fig. 9 in another condition of operation.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the record changer, there shown, includes a mounting base H) on which a turntable is supported for rotation. A driving motor |2 having a driving shaft I3 is coupled to the inner side of an outer, depending flange or rim M by an idler gear l5. Driving motor i2 may be of the synchronous variety and the rotational speed of turntable may be predetermined l3 and flange l4. Although a particular mechanical coupling system has been illustrated it is to be understood that any other form of coupling between motor l2 and turntable may be employed. For example, a multi-speed phonothe cam upwardly by the diameters of shaft graph drive as disclosed in application Serial No. 89,055, filed on April 22, 1949, now Patent No. 2,584,580, in the name of Maurice E. Hardy and assigned to the same assignee as is this application may be utilized to provide a means for driving turntable H at any one of several preselected rotational speeds.

A center-drop spindle for the phonograph extends upwardly from turntable and includes an upper section I6 and an offset hollow lower section li coaxially aligned with the turntable. At the offset, a shelf H3 is defined by the upper extremity of section H. A plurality of record discs of various diameters may be stored in a stack l9, along upper spindle section It with the lowermost record resting upon shelf la. The record-ejecting mechanism embodying the present invention, is associated with spindle |6, andwill be described fully hereinafter.

A record stack leveling arm of conventional design bears upon the uppermost record of stack l9 to maintain the stack in position on shelf l8 with the records parallel to the surface of turntable Leveling arm 20 extends to the vicinity of spindle l6, l1 from a rod 2| which is slidably and rotatably supported within a tubular meme ber 22 affixed to base H1 at a distance from spindle l5, l1 greater than one-half the diameter of the largest records to be played. For this arrangement leveling arm 20 is biased downwardly by its own weight and the weight of rod 2|. Arm. 23 may be rotated in a direction away from spindle l6, H to a position such that records may be loaded in the magazine l6, l8 or removed from turntable H.

A tone arm 23 having a conventional stylus and transducer element 24 afiixed to one end is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis by means of a hinge having companion upper and lower portions 25 and 26, upper hinge portion 25 being afiixed to the other end of the tone arm 23. Tone arm 23 further is supported for rotation about a vertical axis by means of a vertical shaft-21 affixed at one end to hinge portion 26 which rests upon a bearing block 28 secured to base member l0. Hence, tone arm 23 is supported in a manner whereby the stylus of element 24 is engageable with the grooves of a record disc IS on turntable A gear 29, positioned below base I0, is mechanically coupled with turntable II to be rotatable therewith. Gear 29 is in driving engage ment with a gear 30, in turn, coupled to a record changing mechanism 3| by a shaft 32. This mechanism, which may be of any well known construction, includes means for converting the rotary motion imparted to turntable H by driving motor |2 into the various movements necessary to perform a record-changing cycle and its operating details will be explained more fully hereinafter. Record changing mechanism 3| is coupled with shaft 21 by a conventional cam arm 33' and a trip lever 34. Further, mechanism 3| is coupled with one extremity of a tone arm pusher rod 35 which is supported for vertical movement in the vicinity of tone arm 23 with the other extremity thereof in incipient engagement with a projection 36 of upper hinge portion 25.

The spindle section I! extends downwardly through axial openings (not shown) in turntable H and gear 29 and is affixed at the underside of base H! by a bracket 31. An ejector shaft 38 is rotatably and slidably supported within the lower section extends downwardly therefrom, and has a spring terminal 39 at the lowermost dosage? end; A spring 40 is coupled between terminal 39 and bracket 31 to bias shaft 33 in an upward direction. Shaft 38 includes a key portion 4| and the shaft and key portion are slidably dis-- posed Within a corresponding opening and key way (not shown) positioned at one end of a crank lever 42 the other end of which is coupled with record changing mechanism 3|.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the center drop spindle l6, I1 is shown to include a cam receiving re- (295$ 43 provided in section 11. The recess 43 illustrated more clearly by Fig. 3-. The upper portion or lower section I1 is cut away at 11' rode he an areaate path of travel 44 for a earn from a recordreceiving position within recess 43 to a reccrd ejecting position.

Ejector Shaft 38 is prcvided With ahhd slbt 45 arranged to receive, by means of a press fit, ale portion 46 of an 'L-shaped member the other leg of which defines an ejectrar cam 41. shown in Fig. 4, the ejector 41 is supported at the upper extremity 48 of ejector shaft 38 projects into the cut away portion of lower section '11 to travel between its record receiving position within recess 43 ahd its record-ejecting position in response to rotational displacement of shaft 38. Ejector cam 41 is designed to be cbihpleteIy hidden within recess 43 when in its 1 record-receivmg position. Furthermore, since shaft 3B is vertically movable within spindle secnon I 1 and the shaft is biased upwardly by spring 13-, cam 41 also vertically movable and is biased Upwardly by spring travel or the upper that? or can 41, beyond shelf I8 '01 lower section H, to a distance less than As has been pointed out, the ejector cam portion of L-shaped member 46, 41 extends from the outer periphery ofr shaft 38 to project into the cut away portion H of lower spindle secti'en 11. since spindle sections l6 and 11 may have a diameter of the order of 9.275 inch (approaching the center openin'gof the records),

diameter approximately equal to the was thickness of spindle section l1.

y The driving motor l2 which is coupled windintable ll is also coupled to record changing mecha'fiisin 31 as stated above. Furthermore, since record changing mechanism 3| s coupled of th men-t 58; When records are carried rrcm section l1 to section 16 of the spindle, to remove them from the turntable l I, the element 50 is deflected into the spindle by the records to a position wherein a smooth contour is provided along the lower portion of spindle l6. This arrangement is generally Well known and the prime purpose of the gate is to engage and prevent movement of the penultimate record while the lowermost record is being horizontally displaced during a record-changing cycle.

In describing .a record-feeding cycle, let it he assumed that stylus 24 of tone arm 23 is tracking in the groove of record I 9' being rotated by turntable II. When the stylus reaches the cocoa trio portion of the record groove, reverse movechan'ging mechanism M. It is to be understood that any well known form of trip mechanism may be incorporated in record changing mechaimlinn 3| including those responsive to velocity change clutch (not shown), also contained within the changing mechanism, for completing a driving connection between shaft 32 and the various ele ments of the system; i

The rotational movement of shaft 32-, which is driven by motor I2 is converted to Vertical metion to displace rod 35 upwardly whereupon it engages projection 36 to pivot tone and 23 about the horizontal axis of hinge 25, 26 and stylus 24 is carried from engagement with the groove of disc l9. Next, movement is imparted to cam arm 33 to rotate shaft 21 and carry tohearfn 23 outwardly from the center of record 19" beyond the outer periphery, thereof. I

The driving force of motor l2'then is transferred to crank lever 42 and shaft 38 is rotated in a first direction designated by arrow A of 5, displacing cam 41 from recess 43 and along its arcuate path of travel 44. Since spring 40 biases shaft 38 against abutment 49, the ejector 'cain 41 extends upwardly from shelf l8 and engages the aperture defining surface of the lowermost reeord disc of stack 19 to displace this disc are direction indicated by arrow B of Fig. 6. At the same time, gate 50 prevents the penultimat record of stack 19 from moving in this horizontal direction. Movement of shaft 38 continues in the direction of arrow A until cam 41 reaches a position slightly beyond a record-ejecting position. The lowermost record previously aligned with spindle sec tion 16, is aligned with section l1 when cam '41 is in a record ejecting position and the record descends of its own weight toward turntable l I.

The remaining records of stack 19 now bear against the uppermost tip 41' of ejector cam and these records together have sufiicient weight to overcome the force of spring 40. Can; 41 and shaft 38 are displaced downwardly until the records are borne by shelf 18. At the same time, shaft 38 is rotated in a direction opposite to that of arrow A as indicated by arrow C of Fig. '7 with the lower portion of the cam '41 traveling along the arcuate path 44 in the cut away l1 of lower spindle section l1 through the position shown in Fig. 8 with the record stack sup orted by shelf l8. When cam 41 reaches a position within the surface defined by the cylinder of upper spindle section IS, the record stack no longer bears upon its top portion 41' since the centering apertures e record discs are aligned with this spindle section. The bias of spring 48 thereupon urges shaft 38 upwardly to carry cam 41 to its initial position within recess 43 as shown in Fig. 5.

The record which has been discharged or ejected descends along spindle section 11 until it rests atop record disc IS. The sequence of operation is so timed that after the record has been deposited, arm 33 is rotated to carry tone arm 23 to a position wherein stylus 24 is above the starting groove of thenew record and rod 35 is lowered to allow arm 23 to dropand stylus 24 engages thegroove ofthe'new record. The cycle thus is completed and theafore-described sequence is again performed when stylus 24 tracks in the eccentric groove of the new record. Although no record-diameter discriminator element has been illustrated, it is to be. understood that such an. element may be employed with mechanism 31 in order that the tone arm be properly positioned above the starting groove of a newly ejected record disc, of any one of the three diameters (viz 7, or 12 inches).

Inasmuch as cam41 is biased upwardly with :a force determined by spring 48, the tension of the spring may be so adjusted that when the weight of the, records upon the ejector cam 41 is of a predetermined value the cam is displaced to the levelof shelf 18. It is apparent that the low crmost disc may be contacted by the relatively small area of the tip 41" of cam 41 during the return portion ofthe cycle shown in Figs. '7 and 8. However, spring 40 is suificiently weak so that if the weight of the records is great enough to cause any appreciabl wear to the lowermost one, the 'cam is depressed and-the'stack is supported by shelf l8. In a preferred embodiment, the cam is depressed to the level of shelf 18 by the weight of one 10 inch record disc.-

From Fig. 2 itmay be seen that the entire spin- ,dle assembly is easily fabricated. Shaft 38 may be formed from standard rod stockmaterial and spindle section l1 may be fashioned from stock tubing material since close machine tolerances are not required between shaft 38 andthe hollow portion of lower spindle section 11. At the upper extremity of shaft 38, slot 45 is machined by any well known method, milling for example. L-shaped member 46, 41 may be constructed from sheet stock by a conventional stamping method. In assemblying the structure, shaft 38 is inserted at the lower extremity of section I! and placed in a position approximately abutting stop 49. The shaft is rotated until slot 45 is clear of the abutment shoulder and L-shaped member 46, 41 is pressed into slot 45 in a well known manner.

The mechanical arrangement of the invention is such that no fragile elements are employed. In Fig. 4 it may be seen that ejectorshaft 38 may have a diameter which approaches that of spindle section 11. The shaft, therefore, is mechanically rugged and the end slot 45 therein, being small compared with the shaft diameter, weakens the structure little, if at all. The cam member 46, 41 is also rugged by the nature of its L-shaped configuration. Further, as seen in Fig. 3, recess 43 of spindle l6, I1 is a substantially small proportion of the cross sectional area thereof. Thus, the recess does not materially weaken the spindle structure and the fragile spindle of the aforedescribed prior structure is overcome.

It follows then that the arrangement of Figs. 1 through 4 affords a record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph including a mechanically rugged center-drop spindle which is easily manufactured. In addition, the mechanism is such that record discs are not subject to undue wear or damage.

A modification of the spindle and ejec or tructure is shown in Fig. 9. The modified spindle is similar to that of Fig. 4 and corresponding elements are designated by identical reference numerals. In this arrangement, shaft 38 is longitudinally fixed relative to spindle section I1 and in place of spring terminal 39 and spring 48, a thrust bearing (not shown) is affixed to bracket 31 and supports shaft 38 at the lower extremity thereof. Ejector cam 41 is an integral part of an L member having a leg similar to leg 48 of the cam shown in Fig. 2, but considerably higher in the direction of shaft 38 to accommodate a pair of vertical slots 52 and 53. A slot 54 is provided in shaft 38, somewhat deeper than the slot 45 of th shaft shown in Fig. 2 and member 41, 51 is supported for vertical movement relative to the shaft by a pair of pins 55 and 56 which pass through shaft 38. A spring 51 coupled between shaft 38, at the bottom of slot 54, and the leg portion 51 of the L member biases member 41, 5| upwardly, movement thereof being restricted by the lowermost extremities 55 and 56 of slots 52 and 53, respectively. In this position, cam 41 and shaft 38 are related in a manner generally similar to that shown in the spindle of Fig. 4.

The operation of the modified structure is similar to that described in connection with the preferred embodiment and the cyclic sequence shown by Figs. 5 through 8 follows. The operation is exactly as portrayed in Figs. 5 and 6 in one phase of the record-feeding cycle. However, in the phase of operation shown by Fig. 7, instead of the remaining records of stack 19 causing cam 41 and shaft 38 to be depressed, since the shaft is longitudinally fixed relative to spindle section 11, the weight of the record stack depresses cam 41 relative to shaft 38 and against the bias-of spring 51. The operating cycle continues with the ejector cam 41 substantially in the positions shown in Figs. '7 and 8 and at the end of the cycle, spring 51 urges member 41, 5| upwardly to place ejector cam 41 in its record-receiving position within recess 43.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph comprising: a center drop spindle having an upper section and a vertically restrained, offset, hollow lower section, said upper section being provided with a cam-receiving recess in a portion of the base thereof in alignment with said lower section, and a segment of the upper portion of said lower section being cut away to define an arcuate path of travel for a cam from an initial position in which the lowermost record of a stack is supported on said lower section to a terminal position in which said lowermost record of said stack is ejected from said stack; an ejector shaft rotatably supported within said lower section; a vertically movable ejector cam mechanically supported by the upper extremity of said shaft and projecting into the cut-away portion of said lower section to travel between said initial and terminal positions in response to rotational displacement of said shaft;

a spring, biasing said cam upwardly with a force less than the weight of a preselected number of records; a motion-limiting stop for limiting the upward travel of said cam to a distance less than the thickness of one record; and a driving motor mechanically coupled to said shaft to rotate it and said cam to effect a record feeding cycle.

2. A record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph, comprising: a center drop spindle having an upper section and a vertically restrained, offset, hollow lower section, said upper section being provided with a cam-receiving recess in a portion of the base thereof in alignment with said lower section, and a segment of the upper portion of said lower section being cut away to define an arcuate path of travel from an initial position in which the lowermost record of a stack is supported on said lower section to a terminal position in which said lowermost record of said stack is ejected from said stack; an ejector shaft rotatably and slidably supported within said lower section; a vertically movable ejector cam mechanically supported by the upper extremity of said shaft and projecting into the cut-away portion of said lower section to travel between said initial and terminal positions in response to rotational displacement of said shaft; a spring coupled to said shaft to bias said cam upwardly with a force less than the weight of a preselected number of records; a motion-limiting stop for limiting the upward travel of said shaft to a distance less than the thickness of one record; and a driving motor mechanically coupled to said shaft to rotate it and said cam to effect a record feeding cycle.

3. A record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph, comprising: a center drop spindle having an upper section and a vertically restrained, offset, hollow lower section, said upper section being provided with a cam-receiving recess in a portion of the base thereof in alignment with said lower section, and a segment of the upper portion of said lower section being cut away to define an arcuate path of travel for a cam from an initial position in which the lowermost record of a stack is supported on said lower section to a terminal position in which said lowermost record of said stack is ejected from said stack; an ejector shaft rotatably supported within said lower section; a vertically movable ejector pin mechanically supported by the upper extremity of said shaft and projecting into the cut-away portion of said lower section to travel between said initial and terminal positions in response to rotational displacement of said shaft, and having a diameter of the order of the wall thickness of said lower section; a spring, biasing said cam upwardly with a force less than the weight of a preselected number of records; a motion-limiting stop for limiting the upward travel of said pin to a distance less than the thickness of one record; and a driving motor mechanically coupled to said shaft to rotate it and said pin to effect a record feeding cycle.

4. A record storing and ejecting mechanism for a phonograph, comprising: a center drop spindle having an upper section and a vertically restrained, offset, hollow lower section, said upper section being provided with a cam-receiving recess in a portion of the base thereof in alignment with said lower section, and a segment 01' the upper portion of said lower section being cut away to define an arcuate path of travel for a cam from an initial position in which the lowermost record of a stack is supported on said lower section to a terminal position in which said lowermost record of said stack is ejected from said stack; an ejector shaft rotatably and slidably supported within said lower section; a vertically movable ejector cam mechanically supported by the upper extremity of said shaft and projecting into the cut-away portion of said lower section to travel between said initial and terminal positions in response to rotational displacement of said shaft, and having a maximum dimension in a direction transverse to said spindle no greater than the wall thickness of said lower section; a spring coupled to said shaft to bias said cam upwardly with a force less than the weight of a preselected number of records; a motion-limiting stop for limiting the upward travel of said shaft to a distance less than the thickness of one record; and a driving motor mechanically coupled to said shaft to rotate it and said cam to effect a record feeding cycle.

RALPH A. MULLANEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

